Grain mixer



March 15 1927' E. L. BENzEL GRAIN MIXER Original eiled sept. 28, 1923 Patented Mar. 175, 1927.

UNITED sTAri-:s PATENT OFFICE,

GRAIN MIXER.

Application il'ed September 28, 1923, Serial No. 665,370. Renewed J1i1y22, 1926.

The present. invention vrelates to feeders for mixers for granular Amaterial such as seed, grain, seed and grain mixed, or any granular or pulverulent material.

Heretofore, there has been diiculty in getting a regular or uniform mixture of two or more grains or seeds. This is of particular importance where'a `mixedf'eed is re.- quired for instance. The, same is true,.of course, where a mixed seed is required. VTo grow a luniform crop from it itm'ust be of uniform mixture of course. In previous feeders and mixers the lack of uniformity in the proportions in the mixture has usually been due to the failure to maintain theright proportions between the quantities of the Vmaterials taken from the various bins or hoppers 4and supplied to' the mixer or con'- veyor. In the present invention, these objections are eliminated and the exact proportions are maintainedthroughout, the several grains, seeds,l or other ingredients being'Y thoroughly, continuously, and uniformly mixed by the screw conveyor which, at the same time, mixes and conveys the mixture.

In order to Amore clearly disclose .theconv struction, operation', anduse ofthe invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of the present application. Throughout the several figures of the drawings like reference characters designate the same parts.

In the drawings Fig. l is a central, vertical, longitudinal cross section through the invention7 partly broken away to show several feed pockets in section;

Fig. 2 is a lateral, vertical cross section; and

Fig. 3 is a detail, in lateral, vertical cross section, through one of the pockets.V

Referring to the drawings in detail, l represents a bin or like construction, the upper part of which is divided by partitions 2 into a plurality' of vertical hoppers or'compartments 3. As shown in theV drawings, these hoppers are all of the same size. This, however, is not. important. They may be made of the same or different sizes and shapes. However, when of the same size, as here shown, the matter of proportion in the feeding of the material from them, is more readily regulated; It is only the upper part of walls ,fend walls l5', and bottom 6. i The bottom ofthe individual hoppers, on the other hand, slant-s downwardly and inwardly toward, the longitudinal vcentre of the bin,

and an outlet or delivery gap -of considerof thebottom of each hopper and extending vable width is left at the longitudinal centre the full length of each hopper from partition l to partition. Directlyv beneathv these openings 'and extending the f ull length of the entire bin is a shaft yto which are slidably keyed aV plurality ofcylindrical sect-ions or blocks 8. These blocks are of suchV diameter as to extend to within a very short distance of the bottoms of their respective hoppers ywhen the; blocks are assembled on their shaft. Each, block extends, longitudinally posed feed pocket V9 bored orrotherwise` formed in it, .and adapted to receive grain or other material from one ofthe compartments 2. But, in order to get the desiredl mixture and to vary the mixtures to meet different specifications, these pockets must be variable as to volume. To this end, an adjustable false bottom 9 is provided for each pocket. Preferably, this false bottom is a plate or disc having a collar or thickcned central portion l0 bored and threaded to receive a bolt ll. Preferably, also, the collar ris shaped as a nut which may be gripped by a suitable wrench so that it may be turned on the bolt and thereby moved toward on from thev true bottomof the pocket, to vary the effective depth and volume thereof. Each bolt is, inserted from the opposite side of the block through a' bore l2 for that purpose, the bore being suitably closed by a plug 13 after the bolt is placed.

The upper end of each bore, where it comk municates with the pocket is squared or made of other Asuitable non-circular lshaped cross section to seat a correspondingly shapedy portion 13 on the bolt, to hold the boltv against rotationV during rotation of the nut l0, in adjusting the plate 9', volume of the pocket. v

In the drawings only one pocket has been shown in each block andthe blocks have all fory varying the v beenshown as of the .same size, as above explained, they may vary in size to accord with varying sizes of compartments.v For quicker feeding action, eachblock may. be provi dedVV with additional pockets'v similarly Y *d'isposedrV It is'not thought necessary "to,

illust-rate in the .drawings such obvious changes. v

From the pockets 9, thegrain discharges to a screw conveyor 14 extending parallel with and beneath the shaft 7, and enclosed in a substantially semi-cylindrical trough l5 having upwardly extending steeply inclined sidewalls 16,1leading from its edges to the side Wallsk 4. The conveyor thus receivesA ythe lgram from allof the pockets and, while feeding itV longitudinally toward the usual elevator mechanism thoroughly mixes it. In order to retain the grain in-alll of thel pockets until the desired time of, delivery, aprons 12 or similar concaved Yplates are provided, .secured .to walls 4 and extending the full length of theV machine. These platesy are curved-to the shapek of the assembledV blocks Vand fitclose to the.surfacesthereof so that Vthere is noy chance for the escape of grain from the pockets during rota-tion, until the Vpockets are directlyover the conveyor.

Preferably, power is` applied to shaft 7 for operating the'm.achine,-and this is transmitted `to the conveyor shaft lil I through gears 17. and 18. Y It is clear that the grainjor other material finally delivered by the' conveyor will be thoroughly mixed and that the mixture will be uniform throughout and inthe exact proportions desired. At this point it may be l received and elevate/dior otherwise conveyed 'nceneor to lany desired point by any of the well known apparatus.regularly used vfor that purpose. y

, lt, is thought that the construction, operation,`and use of 'theinvention will be clear from the preceding detailed' description, wherein only one preferred forni has been disclosed, byV Wayof illustration. Changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and disposition of the several parts of the invention, Within the scope of the claims cate interchangeable cylindrical elements aligned on Vsaidl shaft, said elements'beiug held in proper relation to Veach other and` i to their respective compartments by end eiigagement with each-other, andeach said ele- 1 ment being provided Vwith pocket extending from it-s outer iieripheial face and Yadapted to receive material through theopen bottom-of its respective compartment.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nain-e to this specification at Sherman this 25th day of `September 1923.

` EMILE L. i'nuznn' 

